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L. T, THORN LICENSE PLATE Filed Feb. 26. 1923 2 Sheets-*Sheet l LICENSE PLATE Filed Feb. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-5h66?, Z

/ www Patented F eb. 5, 1924.

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LAWRENCE T. THORN, OF HARRISBURG, ARKANSAS.

LICENSE PLATE.

Application filed February 26, 1923.

ToA all whom t may concern.:

Beit known that I, LAWRENCE T. THORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Poinsett and State. of -Arkansas, have invented certain` new and useful improvements in License Plates, of which the following is a` speciti cation.

My invention relates to an improvement in license plates, which has for its primary object, the provision of such an article that may be used for an indeiinite period of time, the said license plate bearing the license number and being formed with means for receiving a removable year plate.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of such a license plate, wherein the name and address of the vehicle owner, as well as the records of the machine, such as the date of sale, from whom bought, the number ofthe motor, etc., may be sealed upon the license plate, which will effectively assist in the apprehending of the thief should the car be stolen.

This means of providing a license plate with a sealed record will make it almost an impossibility for a thief to dispose of the car upon the open market, the dierent records carried by the license plate being recorded in the resident town of the machine owners.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood from the accompanyingr drawings and specication.

1n the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a license plate constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail vertical and transverse cross sectional views, respectively, upon the lines 8-8 and 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a removable year plate per se, and

Figure 6 is a similar view of a locking pin employed in conjunction with my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 designates the license plate formed adjacent its top edge with a pair of spaced slots 6 for obvious purposes. Upon this plate there is impressed or otherwise formed the Serial No. 621,251;

usual license number of the car. Adjacent oneend ofthe plate 5, the same is formed with an opening 7, the side and bottom edges of this opening being formed with channel guides S upon the .inner face of said plate. In conjunction with this license plate, there is employed a removable plate member designated in its entirety by the numeral 9. This member consists of a pair of plates 10 joined at their lower edges and spaced a slight distance apart, for forming a pocket. The upper end of one of these plates is bent over upon the end of the other plate as at 11, and then reversely rolled upon itself for forming a transversely extending tube 12.

it is desirable that within the pocleet formed by the said plates 10 there be positioned a card, bearing the name and address of the machine owner as well as the car records above set forth. Upon the front one of the plates 10, there is impressed or otherwise formed the year number, it being understood that the said plate members 9 are to be issued yearly, the license plates 5 being used indefinitely.

Asy clearly shown in Figures 1 to 4, the plate member 9 is adapted to be inserted within the channel guides 8 for permitting the year marks thereon to be clearly viewed through the opening 7 in said license plate.

Adjacent the upper end of the opening within the plate 5 and at the outer corner thereof, the plate is formed with a forwardly projecting lug 13, which has an opening therein, in alinement with the tube 12, when the said plate 9 is positioned upon the license plate. After this plate has been positioned within the guides as shown in the views, a headed pin 14, Figure 6, is extended through the tube 12, as well as through the opening in the said lug 13. One end of this pin is reduced and slotted as at 15, and is adapted to have passed therethrough a seal 16, Figures 1 and 2. The pin 14 effectively maintains the plate 9 in place, and should the seal be broken or otherwise tampered with, it will at once be apparent that the machine equipped with my license plate has been stolen.

In view of the above description, it will at once be apparent that I have provided a highly improved form of license plate that is not only a protection against the theft of automobiles, but one that will also prove a substantial saving in the cost of license plates.

I do not wish to limit myself to the specic structural elements shown in the drawings and described in the specification, as the same may be slightly changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a license tag wherein the saine is formed adjacent one end with an opening, a removable year plate positioned upon said tag and rearwardly of said opening, said year tag being formed with a record sheet pocket and means for securing said year plate to said license tag.

2. In a license tag wherein the same is formed with an opening adjacent one 4end, guides formed upon the side and bottom edges of said opening, a removable year plate adapted to be positioned within said guides rearwardly of the Said opening, said removable year plate being formed with a record sheet pocket, together with a transverse tubular member at the upper end thereof, a lug formed upon said license tag, and having an opening therein in alinement with the tube of said removable year plate and a locking pin adapted for positioning within said tube and the opening in said lug, whereby said removable year plate is maintained in posit-ion upon said license tag.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

LAWRENCE T. THORN. 

